Legislation – The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Related to Courts, Tribunals and Inquests) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

This Order extends the provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7) (the “2020 Act”) which allow a coroner to hold an inquest into a death in prison caused by natural illness without a jury and which provide for courts and statutory tribunals in Northern Ireland to receive evidence, wholly or in part, through the use of audio or video live links.

Article 2 extends the operation of section 32 of the Act for nearly six months after the period of time provided for by section 89 (1) of the 2020 Act, so that a coroner can hold (or continue to hold) an inquest into a death in prison caused by natural illness without a jury until 24 September 2022.

Article 3 extends the period of time provided by section 89 (1) of the 2020 Act for nearly 6 months so that the wider and extended use of video or audio live links by all or any courts or a statutory tribunal (Part 1 of Schedule 27) and the provisions which facilitate public participation in legal proceedings where live links are being used while protecting those proceedings from unauthorised recordings or transmission (Part 2 of Schedule 27) can continue until the 24 September 2022.